Films with sensational soundtracks - Pt. 2
Tommy (1975)
Is a British music film by Ken Russell based on The Who’s rock opera “Tommy” from 1969 starring
Tina Turner, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Jack Nicholson and Roger Daltrey (The Who) as main character.
It follows young Tommy, who, after having a traumatic experience becomes deaf, dumb and blind, a situation which several people exploit for their own pleasure. Playing pinball by intuition he becomes a pinball master, fame and wealth follow and Tommy even starts his own religion.
Pete Townsend (The Who) wrote a couple of songs (Champagne, Mother and Son, TV Studio) especially for the film and apart from tracks of The Who’s “Tommy” album which the actors partially re-recorded it also features a cover of Sonny Boy Williamson II’s “Eyesight To The Blind” by Eric Clapton.
The Graduate (1967)
Mike Nichols' film adaptation of Charles Webb’s novel of the same name tells the story of a young College Graduate (played by Dustin Hoffman). After returning home, struggling to find out what he wants do do with his live, he starts a troubled affair with his Father’s Partners’ wife (Mrs. Robinson). Things get even more complicated when he takes out her daughter Elaine on a date and falls in love with her.
This film classic is accompanied by an outstanding soundtrack written and performed by Simon & Garfunkel with songs such as “The Sound Of Silence”, “Scarborough Fair” and “Mrs. Robinson”.
The soundtrack went up to number one of the American album charts Billboard 200 and made “Mrs. Robinson” a worldwide hit.
I’m Not There (2007)
Todd Haynes’ unconventional biography about Bob Dylan depicts different parts of his personality and events with six actors: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger and Ben Whishaw. The title of the film is taken from the 1967 Dylan Basement Tape recording of "I'm Not There”, which wasn’t officially released until the soundtrack of the film.
The soundtrack features artists such as Sonic Youth, Eddie Vedder, The Black Keys, Cat Power and Charlotte Gainsbourg.
24 Hour Party People (2002)
The British comedic biography directed by Michael Winterbottom about Manchester’s music scene and particularly former record label “Factory Records” follows the career of eccentric news reporter and later founder of “Factory Records” Tony Wilson (Steve Coogan) and some of its most popular bands like Joy Division, New Order and the Happy Mondays.
From late punk, to the start of Manchester’s rave scene the Soundtrack features classics such as the Sex Pistols’ “Anarchy in the UK”, Joy Division’s “Transmission”, “Atmosphere”, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” and of course the Happy Monday’s “24 Hour Party people”.
Lost in Translation (2003)
Sofia Coppola’s critically and commercially successful dramatic comedy tells the story of Bob Harris (Bill Murray), an actor whose fame is fading and struggles with midlife crisis and strains in his marriage. When he goes to Tokyo, Japan to promote Whisky he meets Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), a recent College graduate. They spend a night exploring Tokyos nightlife and having intimate conversations. The tension and atmosphere of the film is undermined by shoe gaze and dream pop songs such as My Bloody Valentines’ “Sometimes”, “Just Like Honey” by The Jesus and Mary Chain and Sebastian Telliers’ “Fantino”
Fun fact: Bill Murray singing “More Than This” by Roxy Music (from the karaoke scene) is added as a hidden track on the Original Soundtrack.